Castello Di Semivicoli Trebbiano D'abruzzo 2008

An eye-opening wine, the 2008 Trebbiano d'Abruzzo Castello di Semivicoli still has wonderful freshness and plenty of intrigue at an age where most whites start to fall apart. Peach, apricot and white floral notes are supported by clean veins of minerality in a bright, beautifully delineated Trebbiano that will continue to drink well for at least a handful of years. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2015.

Varietal: Trebbiano

The Trebbiano varietal grape originates from Italy, but is now found in several countries around Europe and the rest of the world. Historians believe it was originally brought to France in the 14th century, where it became an important varietal, and was widely planted all across the country for wine making purposes. Today, the grape is most commonly associated with fortified wines, and it is also widely used as a blending grape due to its highly aromatic nature and naturally high acidity levels. However, in many parts of Tuscany, as well as elsewhere in the world, it is also used for making exceptionally fine and crisp single variety white wines. Trebbiano normally produces crisp, dry and acidic wines, which have a fantastic expression of the terroir they are grown on. Citrus fruits, white flowers and mineral notes abound, making this an exciting and complex grape.

Country: Italy

There are few countries in the world with a viticultural history as long or as illustrious as that claimed by Italy. Grapes were first being grown and cultivated on Italian soil several thousand years ago by the Greeks and the Pheonicians, who named Italy 'Oenotria' â€“ the land of wines â€“ so impressed were they with the climate and the suitability of the soil for wine production. Of course, it was the rise of the Roman Empire which had the most lasting influence on wine production in Italy, and their influence can still be felt today, as much of the riches of the empire came about through their enthusiasm for producing wines and exporting it to neighbouring countries. Since those times, a vast amount of Italian land has remained primarily for vine cultivation, and thousands of wineries can be found throughout the entire length and breadth of this beautiful country, drenched in Mediterranean sunshine and benefiting from the excellent fertile soils found there. Italy remains very much a 'land of wines', and one could not imagine this country, its landscape and culture, without it.